Jeju – 9-30 Apr 2024

Favourite Restaurants:

• 한아름식당 (black pork BBQ):
  • Hidden gem with no tourists, only locals. Can't beat the price of 12k won for 200g of black pork per person and it was so delicious even down to the skin.
• 올레왕갈치 (fish restaurant):
  • This restaurant is located near the entrance to Seogwipo Maeil Olle Market (서귀포 매일올레시장). Both the stewed and grilled cutlassfish in the set meals were delicious. The grilled cutlassfish was perfectly cooked.
• SooNoolEum (수눌음) (fish restaurant):
  • Mackerel set dinner for 2 pax for 40k won. Full course dishes: raw sashimi, spicy cold noodle, grilled mackerel and mackerel's bones soup as the last course. Popular with locals and not flashy for tourists, i.e. great food at great prices!
• 오현불백 (bulgogi (불고기) restaurant):
  • A restaurant specialising in pork bulgogi. We ordered pork + cuttlefish + octupus for 33k won for 2 sets and cooked with sauce on a hotplate. The sauce was hot and sweet which blended so well when wrapped with lettuce.
• 탑동치킨호프 (Korean fried chicken):
  • The best garlic soya sauce fried chicken we had eaten in Jeju! The batter added a crisp coating to the exterior while retaining the juice inside the meat. When you take a bite, it's so crunchy and not greasy.
• Gyorae Gotjawal hand noodles (교래 곶자왈 손칼국수) (kalguksu (칼국수)):
  • Chicken kalguksu and abalone bomal kalguksu were delicious. The noodle was chewy and the broth rich. Although the portion was huge, each person still needed to order at least one dish.
• Lobinghwa (로빙화) (pizza and hamburger):
  • Went for dinner and was captivated by the atmosphere. Lovely spot and view of the seas from your dining table by the window. Friendly staff and delicious black pork burgers!
• 모루쿠다 (seafood restaurant):
  • Mixed sashimi (4 typles of fish + prawns) and seafood ramen. The sashimi was fresh with firm texture that sprang back when bit. Tasted the sweetness of the seafood!
• 표선수산마트 (sashimi restaurant):
  • Dined there twice. 1st time: Fresh flatfish sashimi at an affordable price. Chose a live fish and prepared upon ordering. 2nd time: Spicy fish stew (Maeuntang (매운탕)) prepared with fresh fish, vegetables and tofu. Mildly spicy that went well with rice.

Coffee:

Paik's Coffee is our favourite wallet-friendly coffee chain among a few others in South Korea.

• 빽다방 서귀포성읍마을점 – Paik's Coffee Seogwipo Seongeup Village Branch:
  • Located in a thatched-roof house in Seongeup (성읍리) style.
• 빽다방 제주함덕점 – Paik's coffee Jeju Hamdeok Branch:
  • Hamdeok Beach (함덕해수욕장) is right in front of this 5-storey building with huge floor-to-ceiling windows. Buy a coffee and head straight to the top floor to enjoy the magnificent view.

Bakery:

• Paris Baguette:
  • Despite its name, it is a Korean bakery which serves crêpe, cakes, sandwiches and bread. It is ubiquitous and very popular in South Korea.

Places worth going:

• Seongsan Ilchulbong (성산 일출봉) (a.k.a. Sunrise Peak):
  • This famous volcanic tuff cone is 182 metres high with a crater at the top. Entrance fee: 5k won per pax. 30 mins hike up 550 stairs.
  • If you're here in the right season with good weather, don't miss the once daily haenyeo performance at 해녀의집 (Haenyeo's House).
• Seopjikoji (섭지코지):
  • Not far from Seongsan Ilchulbong is this small peninsular that is also a cape with beautiful sceneries along the coast. There is Bangdupo Lighthouse (방두포등대) and the unique Glass House (글라스 하우스) designed by world-renowned architect Tadao Ando.
• Seongsan Canola Flower Field (성산유채꽃밭):
  • Every year from March to April, fields of yellow blooms dazzle visitors offering a beautiful backdrop for unforgettable memories.
• Sarabong Park (사라봉공원):
  • Part of Olle Trail route 18. Great hike for around 3 hours overlooking Jeju Port (제주항) with a spectacular view.
• Seoubong Peak (서우봉):
  • Start from Hamdeok Beach (함덕해수욕장), follow the moderate slop of Seowoobong Walking Trail (서우봉 둘레길) to reach Seoubong Peak in about 20 minutes. Best view point of the coast line.
• Shinsan Neighbourhood Park (제주신산근린공원):
  • This less touristic spot to appreciate cherry blossoms from late March to early April is on both banks of the river running next to this park. Find yourself a nice spot covered with cherry flower petals to picnic under cherry blossoms.
• Yongdam Rock (용두암):
  • A volcanic rock that resembles a dragon's head. It's one of Jeju's famous tourist attractions. A nice suspension bridge and a pavilion are nearby.
• Jeju Haenyeo Museum (제주해녀박물관):
  • It's a small museum that provides a good overview of Jeju island's haenyeo diving women. They were tough and the main breadwinners in the local economy through diving. There's an observatory with a beautiful view of Sehwa Beach (세화해변). Don't miss the informative video. Entrance fee: 1,100 won per pax.
• Sinchang Windmill Coastal Road (신창풍차해안):
  • Many wind turbines lined up from the coast to the open sea. There is a walking path across a bridge that crosses the sea. When the weather is good, the environment is beautiful but very windy.
• Lee Jung Seop Cultural Street (이중섭거리):
  • A quaint little street with interesting shops and restaurants in downtown Seogwipo. Nearby are Lee Jung Seob Art Gallery (이중섭미술관) and former residence (이중섭 거주지) of the famous cow painter Lee Jung Seop.
• Seongeup Folk Village (성읍민속마을):
  • A small native village of Jeju with thatched-roof stone houses, some temples, a courtyard for royal guests, alongside some touristic restaurants, cafes and souvenir shops. Visiting this place is like travelling back in time. It gives us some idea of how lifestyle once was on Jeju island before its modernisation and the onset of consumerism and tourism.
• Namwon Keuneong Coastal Scenic Spot (남원큰엉해안경승지):
  • Not a major tourist attraction but the beautiful 1.1km coastline is an easy walk especially during the day. We walked from here to Lobinghwa for dinner and back to the carpark after dark.

Beaches:

• Pyoseon Beach (표선해수욕장):
  • A wonderful massive white sand beach where you can walk a long distant without reaching the sea during low tide. The nearby Lotteria is a good place to have meal while enjoy the view of the beach.
• Sehwa Beach:
  • A quiet and beautiful beach.
• Hamdeok Beach:
  • A gorgeous white beach with clear water. There are water sports and nice cafes along the beach. Adventurous ones can also head to Seoubong Peak and look back at this beach.
• Iho Tewoo Beach (이호테우해변):
  • The beach where one can see the unique and iconic red and white horse-shaped lighthouses from a distance. You can enjoy the view on a matching bench.

Markets:

• Dongmum Traditional Market (제주동문시장):
  • It's popular, touristic and offers abundant local snacks, especially BBQ. However, the price is not cheap. Night market starts from 6pm. Day time is quieter, not so crowded.
• Seogwipo Olle Market:
  • We like Olle Market better than Dongmum. Black pig's trotters here are delicious. Raw oysters & octopus banchan are fresh and good (obviously we were return customers there).

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